Program focuses on corporal works of mercy

The B.C. Catholic
SURREY



The annual Project Advance fundraising campaign is recognizing the Jubilee Year of Mercy with a refugee contingency fund.

“Every year Project Advance has a special grant funding program where we distribute $100,000 to various organizations that apply to receive funding,” Brett Powell said over lunch at the 2016 Project Advance launch. “The refugee contingency fund is a new fund that will allow parishes sponsoring refugee families to augment their work in refugee settlement.”

Powell, the archdiocese’s director of development, Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, and other Project Advance officials met for lunch at St. Matthew’s Church April 9 for the official launch.

Project Advance “is a very tangible way that the archbishop and the archdiocese can demonstrate support to the many organizations that are doing great and important work through the diocese,” said Powell.

He noted last year’s goal was exceeded. “All the parishes had raised over $7 million, which was a wonderful job done.”

The luncheon began with a viewing of a new Project Advance video. In the eight-minute film, the archbishop asks the faithful to give with an open heart: “As the Lord has been generous to you, let us be generous in return to Him and to others.”

“Project Advance is not only a work of mercy, it is a work of charity,” said Archbishop Miller. “Charity is a reflection of the love of God that has been poured forth into our hearts that we want to share with others.”

“This year we focused on the refugee sponsorship program, which is very fitting, as this whole Holy Year is dedicated to mercy,” said Renata Cecconi, a Project Advance appeal coordinator.

The video featured several recipients of the funding, including Rita Poles, a former Iraqi refugee aided by Project Advance. After initially escaping to Syria, she and her family moved to Canada after the outbreak of the Syrian war.

“Project Advance helped refugees and newcomers to Canada, and we are really grateful to have such a program, and we are thankful to have the support of the Church,” Poles said. “Canada is not only a beautiful and peaceful place to live, but a place where I could start dreaming again.”


This year’s campaign goal is $3 million, with funding planned for:

$1,400,000 Secondary Schools Construction

$650,000 New Parish Sites

$450,000 Catholic Charities

$250,000 Diocesan Outreach

$100,000 Youth and Young Adults

$50,000 VanSpec


Special Grants for 2016

$25,000 Refugee Contingency Fund

$20,000 Seminary of Christ the King

$16,000 Luke 15 House

$10,000 Our Lady of Good Counsel Society

$8,450 Catholic Voices Canada Society

$7,750 St. Vincent’s Langara / Tapestry Foundation for Health Care

$5,000 L’Arche Foundation of Greater Vancouver

$4,000 Simon Fraser University Catholic Chaplaincy

$3,800 Sancta Maria House of Healing